#1
Which of the following is NOT a type of experimental design?
Correlational design
ExplanationCorrelational design does not involve manipulation of variables.
#2
What is the independent variable in an experiment?
The variable that is manipulated
ExplanationThe independent variable is the one manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
#3
What is the purpose of a control variable in an experiment?
To remain constant throughout the experiment
ExplanationControl variables are kept constant to isolate the effects of the independent variable.
#4
Which of the following is an example of a continuous variable?
Height
ExplanationHeight is a continuous variable as it can take any value within a range.
#5
In a between-subjects design, participants are:
Only exposed to one level of the independent variable
ExplanationParticipants experience only one level of the independent variable in a between-subjects design.
#6
Which of the following is a potential confounding variable in an experiment?
Extraneous variable
ExplanationAn extraneous variable, if not controlled, can confound the interpretation of results.
#7
What is a factorial design in experimental research?
A design involving multiple levels of the independent variable
ExplanationFactorial designs explore the impact of multiple levels of the independent variable.
#8
What is the purpose of random assignment in experimental design?
To reduce the likelihood of participant bias
ExplanationRandom assignment helps distribute participant characteristics equally, reducing bias.
#9
What is the purpose of a pilot study in experimental research?
To gather preliminary data and identify potential issues
ExplanationPilot studies collect initial data and identify potential problems before the main study.
#10
What is a covariate in experimental research?
A variable that is related to the dependent variable but not part of the experimental manipulation
ExplanationCovariates are related to the dependent variable but not manipulated in the experiment.
#11
What is the purpose of a placebo in experimental research?
To provide a standard against which the experimental treatment can be compared
ExplanationPlacebos serve as a comparison to assess the specific effects of the experimental treatment.
#12
What is the difference between random sampling and random assignment?
Random sampling ensures that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to a group, while random assignment ensures that each group is representative of the population
ExplanationRandom sampling creates a representative sample; random assignment ensures group representativeness.
#13
What is the purpose of stratified sampling?
To divide the population into groups and then randomly select individuals from each group
ExplanationStratified sampling involves dividing the population into subgroups and randomly selecting from each subgroup.
#14
What is a Type II error in hypothesis testing?
Failing to reject the null hypothesis when it is false
ExplanationType II error involves failing to reject a false null hypothesis.
#15
What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?
To serve as a comparison to the experimental group
ExplanationThe control group provides a baseline for comparison with the experimental group.
#16
What is the difference between a dependent variable and an outcome variable?
Dependent variables are measured to assess the effects of the independent variable, while outcome variables are specific measures of interest
ExplanationDependent variables respond to changes in the independent variable; outcome variables are specific measures of interest.
#17
What is the purpose of blinding in experimental research?
To prevent bias in the administration of treatments or measurements
ExplanationBlinding reduces bias by keeping participants or researchers unaware of treatment assignments.
#18
What is the difference between internal validity and external validity in research?
Internal validity refers to the extent to which a study accurately represents reality, while external validity refers to the extent to which findings can be generalized to other populations or settings
ExplanationInternal validity focuses on accurate representation; external validity considers generalizability to other populations or settings.
#19
In a repeated measures design, participants:
Are exposed to all levels of the independent variable
ExplanationParticipants experience all levels of the independent variable in a repeated measures design.
#20
What is the difference between a main effect and an interaction effect in factorial designs?
Main effects represent the combined influence of all independent variables, while interaction effects represent the joint influence of two or more independent variables
ExplanationMain effects summarize the impact of individual variables; interaction effects consider the combined influence of multiple variables.
#21
What is counterbalancing in experimental design?
A procedure used to ensure that the order of conditions is the same for all participants
ExplanationCounterbalancing ensures consistent ordering of conditions across participants.
#22
What is a within-subjects design?
A design in which each participant is exposed to all levels of the independent variable
ExplanationParticipants experience all levels of the independent variable in a within-subjects design.
#23
What is a type I error in hypothesis testing?
Rejecting the null hypothesis when it is true
ExplanationType I error involves incorrectly rejecting a true null hypothesis.
#24
In a double-blind study, who is unaware of the treatment assignments?
Both the participants and the researchers
ExplanationBoth participants and researchers are kept unaware of treatment assignments in a double-blind study.
#25
What is the purpose of a scatterplot in data analysis?
To display the relationship between two continuous variables
ExplanationScatterplots visually represent the relationship between two continuous variables.